Nicki Minaj

The Starships hitmaker and her team submitted the track to the Recording Academy to be considered for nominations in the rap categories. However, The Hollywood ...

If you're great, if a song is great, you should be able to be put together in the same category." And it's a bunch of people, white or wherever they're from, or older or whatever, and they have to decide between Nicki Minaj and Harry Styles, or Nicki Minaj and Adele?" "If Super Freaky Girl is pop, then so is Big Energy.

Nicki Minaj has spoken up and has accused the Grammys of prioritising newer artists in rap categories, and made some striking claims about rapper Latto in ...

it’s the same answer I gave u when u asked why I didn’t congratulate you. [Nicki Minaj’s missing acrylic nail is being auctioned online for thousands of dollars](https://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/nicki-minaj/missing-acrylic-nail-auction-online-ebay-thousand-dollars-barbz-reaction-vma/) [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/nicki-minaj-super-freaky-girl-grammys-pop-1235240981/) claimed that Nicki's tune 'Super Freaky Girl' was moved from the rap to the pop category for consideration, despite spending its eighth week at the top of the rap charts. You’re asking why I didn’t speak up in ur defense… [Nicki Minaj](https://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/nicki-minaj/) has taken to her Instagram stories to take swipes at emerging rap artists, including Latto, as she accused the Grammy awards of prioritising newer artists in the rap categories. Nicki's song 'Super Freaky Girl' was reportedly denied to compete in the rap category at next year's Grammy Awards, and has instead been moved to the 'pop' category. Nicki Minaj has spoken up and has accused the Grammys of prioritising newer artists in rap categories, and made some striking claims about rapper Latto in the process.

Nicki Minaj's frustrations over not being considered for a rap Grammy quickly devolved into a heated Twitter argument with Latto.

"This is simply an open discussion/healthy dialogue," she said. This sparked a heated back-and-forth between the two rappers, including Nicki calling Latto a "Karen" while the latter complained about being the subject of subtweets for months, calling the "Superbass" rapper a "bully." [when she tweeted](https://twitter.com/NICKIMINAJ/status/1580703316073361408) that if "Super Freaky Girl" was not rap, then Latto's own hit track she be moved from the category. "I have no prob being moved out of the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY," she said. No diff from a 9-5 where you should speak up for yourself if you know you're a great employee & continue to be purposely sabotaged." [Nicki Minaj](https://www.iheart.com/artist/nicki-minaj-372266/?autoplay=true) reacted to news that her hit single "Super Freaky Girl" won't be considered in any rap category at the 2023 Grammy Awards and would instead be listed under pop.

Nicki Minaj criticized the Grammys for moving her song “Super Freaky Girl” from the rap to pop field. She then broadened the fight by bringing up Latto's ...

[Silk Sonic announced yesterday](https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/silk-sonic-bows-out-an-evening-with-album-grammy.html) that they would not submit their album An Evening With Silk Sonic, a perceived favorite after single “Leave the Door Open” won four awards last year. [“Super Freaky Girl”](https://www.vulture.com/2022/08/stream-nicki-minajs-tiktok-famous-super-freaky-girl.html) in the rap field, the awards moved the song to compete in pop, [according to the Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/nicki-minaj-super-freaky-girl-grammys-pop-1235240981/). [Latto’s hit](https://www.vulture.com/2022/05/lattos-big-energy-giving-mariah-carey-and-tom-tom-club.html), which samples the Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love” (which was also sampled in Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”). In 2020, she criticized the awards for racism, citing that they gave Best New Artist to “the white man Bon Iver” over her despite her success. And the Weeknd and Minaj’s good friend Drake are continuing their boycotts of the Grammys. The two then went back and forth on Twitter over Minaj’s lack of support for Latto, before accusing each other of using ghostwriters and reminding the world that Minaj’s husband, [Kenneth Petty, is a convicted rapist](https://www.vulture.com/2022/07/nicki-minaj-husband-kenneth-petty-house-arrest-sex-offender.html).

La première à avoir lancé les hostilités, c'est Nicki, après s'être exprimée sur les nominations des Grammy Awards en live Instagram. Ce qu'elle dénonce, c'est ...

En revanche selon Latto, ce n'est pas la première fois que Nicki Minaj l'attaque indirectement sur les réseaux sociaux. Ce à quoi Nicki a répondu en affirmant que c'était uniquement dans sa tête, et qu'elle ne parlait jamais d'elle... En effet Latto a indirectement répondu à Nicki Minaj, se vantant de ne pas avoir assez de temps pour fêter toutes ses récompenses et nominations aux différentes cérémonies d'Award. "Cette Karen a probablement mentionné mon nom dans plus de 100 interviews. La guerre est bel et bien déclarée entre Nicki Minaj et Latto. [...] En plus c'est le même producteur sur les deux morceaux."

A Twitter back-and-forth got deeply personal, with Latto calling Nicki Minaj “super freaky grandma” and saying she's “married AND related to f*cking rapists ...

“I literally named u as my dream collab multiple times in multiple interviews…like I told u otp I looked up to u…u still never answered my question about where the random shade started coming from,” she wrote. In Nicki’s “story in 5 parts,” she continued calling Latto a Karen “who blames others for her album flopping,” saying “every dm from scratch off is about a feature” and that the 777 artist “feels she has pull behind the scenes w “U only get called old when you pass on their features 😩 i ain’t never diss my idols for not giving me a feature,” the Queen spitter wound up tweeting. U literally told me I’m not ‘flourishing’ and no one cares about my ‘little song.’” She also responded to the “older than my mom” jab. The two proceeded to outline their sides of the story, with a slew of screenshots and shade. A couple hours later Minaj decided to reveal a text from Latto where the latter agreed but “because of where we left off ion think u need to bring my name/song up.” Here Nicki started calling her “Scratch Off” and a “Karen,” writing alongside a screenshot of the text, “This Karen has probably mentioned my name in over 100 interviews. “She used me & the Barbz in every interview until that album sold double wood. “Age shaming when you look like YOU the one pushing 40. I wanted to speak up cuz like I said I do agree but the way u going about it seems malicious,” she added. At this point Latto, 23, took to her account to wonder why she was brought into the conversation. … If you move ‘Super Freaky Girl’ out of rap and put it in pop, do the same thing for ‘Big Energy,’” the 10-time nominee said in a series of Instagram Live remarks on the confusing potential move by the Recording Academy.

Nicki Minaj has called out The Recording Academy for switching her hit “Super Freaky Girl” out of the Grammy Awards' rap category, and into pop, ...

Its shift into the pop frame, or “moving the goal post,” she says, is part of a process to “uplift the people who they want to shine, the people who these corporate giants can make the money off of the people, control things behind the scenes, they have to elevate someone that they profit off.” Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” was a mainstream hit, blasting to No. What is ‘Big Energy?’ If ‘Super Freaky Girl’ is a pop song, what song is ‘Big Energy.’ What genre is ‘Big Energy?’ ‘Super Freaky Girl,’ where I only rapped on the song, was removed out of the rap categories at the Grammys, right. Same producers on both songs, by the way. “’Super Freaky Girl’ was removed from the rap category, we found out today in the Grammy submission.

Nicki Minaj isn't thrilled about the Grammys moving her song “Super Freaky Girl” from the rap to the pop category. The rapper took to social media Thursday ...

That’s purposely designed so Nicki is not in the (rap) category that we don’t want any competition in. Minaj added, referencing Latto’s hit “Big Energy”: “If ‘Super Freaky Girl’ is pop, then so is ‘Big Energy’. They don’t want the people that they have in the industry to go up against me.” The musician then said on Instagram, “If you can’t tell by now that there is a concerted effort to give newer artists things that they really don’t deserve over people who have been deserving for many years, then you’re not paying attention. No diff from a 9-5 where you should speak up for yourself if you know you’re a great employee & continue to be purposely sabotaged. I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY.

After The Recording Academy said Nicki Minaj hit "Super Freaky Girl" categorizes as pop, the rapper got into an Twitter war with Latto.

FYI I only recorded cause I KNOW who tf I’m playing wit They’ll all tell u I WRITE TOO! [pic.twitter.com/SkNuiVfCP4] Luke and having a song with Kodak Black, who pled U literally told me I’m not “flourishing” and no one cares about my “little song” otp lol Peep “not again” because she thinks I was “using her fans” for simply teasing my “Wheelie” ft & then the BE remix ft it’s the same answer I gave u when u asked why I didn’t congratulate you. I wanted to speak up cuz like I said I do agree but the way u going about it seems malicious esp. “Says she waited in line for Pink Friday w [October 14, 2022] [Nicki Minaj](https://www.okayplayer.com/tag/nicki-minaj) and [Latto](https://www.okayplayer.com/tag/latto) last night. I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY.

Nicki Minaj and Latto called each other "Karen" and "Grandma" on Twitter after Minaj suggested that the Grammys shifted her from rap to pop to help Latto's ...

“Soon female rap will really not have any Black women,” Minaj said in the IG speech, without making any specific references as to who she was talking about at that point. Although the awards have become a third wheel in this argument, with Minaj and Latto seeming to leave the spurring controversy behind as they go after each other, probably never before has there been this much attention paid to the Grammys almost four months out from the show actually airing. Luke refers to the producer having been accused of rape by Kesha, with a defamation lawsuit by the producer against the artist that continues to wind through New York appeals court. They don’t want the people that they have in the industry to go up against me.” That’s why u really mad.” (The “777” album debuted at No. If there’s such a thing as a possible winner in this feud amid this much open warfare — and there probably isn’t — it might be the Grammys, at least as heightened interest goes. “And by the way, this is not to say any song is bad or any female rapper is bad. [Minaj unloaded on social media and in a 17-minute Instagram video](https://variety.com/2022/music/news/nicki-minaj-grammys-move-super-freaky-girl-rap-pop-category-latto-1235403285/), contending that the move would only be fair if Latto’s “Big Energy” was also shifted from rap to pop categories. The younger artist even referred to Minaj as “my idol-turned-rival” as the conversation went nuclear. I wanted to speak up cuz like I said I do agree but the way u going about it seems malicious esp. but today, scratch off decides to be silent; rather than speak up for the Black woman she called her biggest inspiration.” “If you can’t tell by now that there is a concerted effort to give newer artists things that they really don’t deserve over people who have been deserving for many years, then you’re not paying attention,” Minaj said in the video.

Twitter erupted on October 13, 2022 as Nicki Minaj and Latto's beef was born after an opinion shared about Grammy nominations.

On the flip side, others believe that Nicki is a bully that’s complaining about not getting her way. Latto also shared recordings of previous conversation with Nicki to prove her point, but they continued to fall short in the eyes of Nicki's fans. Nicki called Latto “Scratch off” instead of her name, while Latto shared audio recordings of their phone calls as the situation went down. Nicki shared a screenshot of her DM with Latto that shows the “Big Energy” femcee agreeing with Nicki’s sentiments. Fans of hip-hop know that people love to hate Nicki Minaj — it’s not an opinion; it’s a fact. Many people believe that Latto shouldn’t have reacted the way she did. Keep in mind, not only did Latto herself refer to “Big Energy” as a pop song on Twitter, Nicki also called out the fact that “Big Energy” and “SFG” had the same producers. Nicki also called out Latto for repeatedly bringing her up in interviews. The icon also called out the hypocrisy since “SFG” was taken out of rap categories, but Latto’s “Big Energy” was not removed and is currently up for consideration for rap awards. However, Latto said that she didn’t think Nicki should use her to validate her argument. She went on to call out examples of other artists receiving the same treatment. Fans of both stars were first shocked, seeing that Latto and Nicki have always spoken well about one another on social media and beyond.

This argument is the latest in a weekslong debate among female rappers that has fallen into a proxy war between Minaj and other popular artists.

[Submit it here](https://tips.buzzfeed.com) [Steffi Cao](/author/stefficao) at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Steffi Cao is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.

Is 'Super Freaky Girl' a pop song or a rap song? In the meantime, two stars fight online.

The only category that they can manage to fit me in is in a rap category, maybe because I’ve rapped in the past or because I’m Black.” (The Recording Academy did not respond to a request for comment for this story.) I don’t like that ‘urban’ word — it’s just a politically correct way to say the n-word to me.” [Nicki Minaj](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/nicki-minaj/), the ever-polarizing rap icon seeking more Grammy gold with “ [Super Freaky Girl](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nicki-minaj-super-freaky-girl-new-single-1396258/),” and [Latto](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/latto/), the buzzing Atlanta MC whose “Big Energy” hit [is one of the biggest songs of 2022](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/latto-atlanta-rapper-big-energy-1248824/). Tyler, The Creator expressed similar discontent with the Grammys over his 2019 album Igor, calling their decision to name the melodic, R&B-inspired project 2020’s Best Rap Album a “backhanded compliment.” During a post-Grammys press conference at the time, he said, “It sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that’s genre-bending… [hip-hop](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/hip-hop/) heads have contended that these artists should rise above petty tweets and take their gripes to the booth, which might at least yield an entertaining diss track. all these awards/noms I can’t even celebrate,” a line that many onlookers perceived as a response to Nicki’s commentary on the Grammys. As Minaj noted in her Instagram Live session, Drake was confused about why “Hotline Bling” won a rap Grammy, telling DJ Semtex This isn’t the first example of their inability to properly categorize Black music, especially from rappers. Still, there’s the question of whether it’s worth it for Latto or another rising artist to wage war on Nicki, and by extension the Barbs. “’Freaky Girl,’ where I only rapped on the song, was removed from the rap categories at the Grammys,” Minaj sarcastically noted. Nicki responded with a barely subliminal shot at Latto, tweeting, “This Karen has probably mentioned my name in over 100 interviews.

Nicki Minaj and Latto engaged in a heated back-and-forth on Twitter stemming from the Recording Academy's decision to dub 'Super Freaky Girl' as a pop song.

[“all these awards/noms I can’t even celebrate,”](https://twitter.com/Latto/status/1580713652776116224) and began firing back at the musician. Minaj alleged that Marley Green, the personality behind “Nosey Heaux,” claimed the rapper was “shoving all this cocaine up her nose” and made crass remarks about her 1-year-old son. “I feel like later on, years from now, we’re gonna look at this time for female rap and be like, ‘Wow, this was like a special moment. “I have no prob being moved out of the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY,” Minaj tweeted Thursday evening. [replied to a fan’s tweet. [shared her ](https://twitter.com/Latto/status/1580766670687125504) [collection of screenshots](https://twitter.com/Latto/status/1580766670687125504) of Minaj fans seemingly facing criticism from Minaj for even mentioning the “Big Energy” singer. I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY. ANY1 who says diff is simply a Nicki hater or a troll. Minaj wasn’t expecting the pivot to pop. Nicki Minaj is beefing with a fellow artist on Twitter, again. She later echoed her grievances on Twitter, still mentioning Latto. If SFG has 2B moved out RAP then so does Big Energy!

'Variety' reports that although Minaj submitted her chart-topping song to the rap categories at the Grammys, the Recording Academy moved it to pop.